“I love being in this organization. I really enjoy working with different people…”
“Being matched in the Citizens Program has been life-changing.”
One of our most exemplary buddy pairs is Jen Potocki and Hope Blevins. Hope and Jen met at our Paint Nite event at the Mispillion Art League. It was Hope’s first event as a new buddy and Jen was there assisting her mom, Miss Judy, who volunteers to run the event.
It is nearly impossible to return from our annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) without feeling inspired. Individual and group discussions about disability rights advocacy fuel the entire weekend. Guest speakers discuss the inclusion movement and performers with and without disabilities unite.
Best Buddies Month is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life.
On a beautiful day at the Suburban Little League fields, the assembled teams displayed their talents and demonstrated that kickball is not just for grade school anymore! The games were exciting and competitive but at the end of the day, it was about raising awareness about Best Buddies, having fun and making new friends.
The Best Buddies Delaware (BBDE) staff is pleased to offer its signature friendship model to many more people in the coming months through the expansion of our friendship programs for both students and adults. The BBDE staff has been actively been working to bring its programs to all in Delaware, and there’s a new and focused push to bring the Citizen Program (for adults) specifically to people with IDD in Southern Delaware, and to Greater Wilmington area schools.
Several residents from Independence Community near Millsboro, Delaware came out in 2016 with a resolve to make the world a nicer place. Program Supervisor Anne Karwath and her husband Kevin (also paired with a Buddy), shared the mission of the organization at a community gathering and three people signed up on the spot in hopes of becoming matched with a Buddy.
The Best Buddies Citizen Chapter at Bank of America has long been one of the most active and growing citizen’s chapters within the Best Buddies organization. This very strong program has experienced its growth in part to having committed members, outstanding and dedicated volunteers and an overall culture of excellence and service that have all contributed to a successful program.
Best Buddies Delaware is excited to welcome Deanna Blizzard to our staff as a Program Manager for Citizens – Southern Delaware. Deanna’s primary focus will be to promote the program in Southern Delaware and to recruit new volunteers to be matched in a one-to-one friendship with a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD).
On March 19, 2016, four of our High School buddies represented as honorary coaches for the Blue Gold All-Star Basketball Games. During this time, our buddies got the chance to interact with the players and coaches from different schools in their area. Not every school has a Best Buddies chapter, […]
Over 30 people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities enjoyed an evening of fun and friendship on October 19, 2015 at the Easter Seals of Delaware in Georgetown. This event was part of our larger effort to expand Best Buddies programs in Sussex County where there are nearly 1,000 […]
The 8th annual Kickball Tournament presented by Discover Financial Services was held on September 19th. Congratulations to the winners – Family Ties – Top Fund-raising team and Got 99 Reasons – First Place.
The 4th annual Buddy Run benefiting Best Buddies Delaware and the Boardwalk Buddy Walk, and presented by WSFS Bank, began and ended under beautifully sunny skies on Sunday, August 9th. More than 325 runners and walkers took to the streets of Dewey Beach, cheered on by family and friends, and many with anticipation of the pancake breakfast that awaited them courtesy of the Dewey Beach Lion’s Club.
Best Buddies Delaware School Friendship programs are in full force for the 2015/2016 school year. After a fantastic weekend at Leadership Conference, chapters are anxious to bring back what they learned in Indiana to their peers. Best Buddies Delaware sent 10 student leaders, one faculty advisor, and three ambassadors to […]
Brian and Robbie are great examples and role models for how a true integrated relationship should be in our world. They both are very busy with their own lives through work and family, yet each commit to spending quality time with one another. Brian plays in a band and Robbie […]
“My name is Michael Pasquale! I am happy to share my story with you! Everyone, I began working with Best Buddies Delaware in 2010 and I just had my fifth year anniversary party. It was a blast! “I am also a buddy ambassador. I have been practicing my speeches and have […]
Delaware Best Buddy program participants, Andrea Rees and her Best Buddy Gail Fidance, were matched in the fall of 2013. Though they knew each other less than year, the spirit of their friendship will live on through an extraordinary gift from Andrea, whose life was cut far too short. Through […]